Sir Simon Gass
GCMG CVO
Gass in June 2011
Chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee
In office
2019 – July 2023
Prime MinisterTheresa May
Boris Johnson
Rishi Sunak
Preceded byCharles Farr
Succeeded byMadeleine Alessandri
British Ambassador to Iran
In office
2009–2011
Prime MinisterGordon Brown
David Cameron
Preceded bySir Geoffrey Adams
Succeeded byDominick Chilcott
Personal details
Born (1956-11-02) 2 November 1956
SpouseMarianne Enid Stott (1980–present)
Children3
Alma materUniversity of Reading

Sir Simon Lawrance Gass GCMG CVO (born 2 November 1956) is a British civil servant. He chaired the Joint Intelligence Committee from 2019 to 2023 and served as the British Prime Minister's representative on Afghanistan from 2021 to 2022 concurrently. Between 2018 and 2019, he was the Commandant of the Royal College of Defence Studies. During his diplomatic career, he served as British ambassador to Greece and to Iran. In May 2023, it was announced he was stepping down as Chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee and succeeded by Madeleine Alessandri.

Career

Ambassador to Iran

He was British Ambassador to Iran 2009–11. He arrived in post during the spring of 2009 from his previous posting in Greece and was present during the June 2009 protests following the disputed re-election of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad.

Following these events Gass posted his views from Tehran on the social networking site Twitter, commenting on the Iranian regime's record on human rights, political prisoners and freedom of speech. His 'tweets' are shared widely by Iranian reformists and diaspora across the web as well as being featured in mainstream media.[5] In January 2011, Gass passed the 1000 follower mark, making him one of the most followed diplomats on Twitter.

In December 2010, Gass's digital activities caused mild uproar among Iranian politicians, who called for his expulsion after he highlighted the case of human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh in an article posted on the British Embassy in Iran website. The statement was released on International Human Rights Day and criticised Iran's human rights record.[6] The Foreign and Commonwealth Office defended Gass's comments, which gained widespread approval from his Iranian reformist followers on Twitter.

NATO and FCO

In February 2011 Gass was seconded to NATO as Senior Civilian Representative in Afghanistan.[7] After serving in this post for 18 months he returned to the FCO in London as Director General, Political, and the Prime Minister's Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan.[8] He retired from the FCO in 2016.

FCDO Services

In 2017, Gass was appointed Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Board of FCDO Services.

Honours

Gass was appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in the 1998 Birthday Honours, Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) in the 2011 New Year Honours,[9] and Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG) in the 2023 Birthday Honours for services to national security and British foreign policy.[10]

References

  1. ↑ "Sir Simon Gass appointed as new Commandant Royal College of Defence Studies". Defence Academy of the United Kingdom. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  2. ↑ "Sir Simon Gass". gov.uk. Cabinet Office. 7 May 2023. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  3. ↑ "Joint Intelligence Committee Chair appointed: Sir Simon Gass". gov.uk. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  4. ↑ "Joint Intelligence Committee Chair appointed: Madeleine Alessandri CMG". gov.uk. UK Cabinet Office. 4 May 2023. Retrieved 7 May 2023. The Cabinet Secretary, with the approval of the Prime Minister, has announced the appointment of Madeleine Alessandri CMG as the new Chair of the Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC) and head of the Joint Intelligence Organisation (JIO). Madeleine will replace Simon Gass who is stepping down after four years in the role.
  5. ↑ Britain's Ambassador sends angry Tweet ..., Metro Online, 13 August 2010
  6. ↑ Iranian politicians call for UK ambassador recall, BBC News, 13 December 2010
  7. ↑ NATO Secretary General appoints new Senior Civilian Representative in Afghanistan, 9 February 2011
  8. ↑ Simon Gass, gov.uk
  9. ↑ "No. 59647". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 2010. p. 3.
  10. ↑ "No. 64082". The London Gazette (Supplement). 17 June 2023. p. B3.
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